Maurice Marceau reached the gated entrance to the Duc de Roche’s chateau. They were greeted by servants holding torches to help lead the guests to the main entrance.

Marguerite looked so happy as she held his arm. She was enthralled by all the grandeur.

No one recognized Maurice as he was seldom seen in public. They waited in line until their names were asked and written down by a servant before formerly announcing their presence and proceeding inside. Maurice noticed that there were women present and Marguerite at least would not be bored. He caught the eye of his brother-in-law, the Duc d’ Laurenc’s with his mistress while waiting for their names to be announced.

“Le Duc d’ Laurenc and Madame Charlotte,” announced the servant.

“Le Deputé Marchand and Madame Marchand,” announced the servant.

“Le Marquis de Maupaussant and Madame Reneé,” announced the servant.

“Monsieur Maurice Marceau and Madame Marguerite,” announced the servant.

The entire room fell into a hushed silence upon hearing the name. Maurice and Marguerite were greeted by an entire line of co-hosts and immediately caught the attention of all present. His name was famous yet his face was seldom seen in public. His handsome face and physique stunned all in attendance. So very few of the wealthy in France held such money and good looks in combination and with such magnetism. Maurice carried himself well and beheld those in attendance in absolute awe. He was a fine one. And to the few who knew him, Maurice was never known to bring a woman with him to the few social events he chose to attend as he always arrived alone. This was a first in many many years.

“Let me first read this introductory part” said Max as he
read outloud. “There are different kinds of
Spirits, according to the things over which they preside; some of them govern
the Empyrean Heaven, others the Primum Mobile, others the First and Second Crystalline,
others the Starry Heaven there are also Spirits of the Heaven of Saturn, which
I call Saturnites there are jovial, Martial, Solar, Venerean, Mercurial…and
Lunar Spirits there are also (Spirits) in the Elements as well as in the Heavens,
there are some in the Fiery Region, others in the Air, others in the Water, and
others upon the Earth, which can all render service to that man who shall have
the good fortune to understand their nature, and to know how to attract them.

Max decided right then to follow through with the texts in the manuscripts. The
planetary tables he needed were at university. The manuscripts strictly
enforced the use of the rituals during certain hours of the day and night that
required careful attention to the phases of the moon and to the risings and
settings of the planets as written in the tables he needed. He knew he was out
of sync with his planetary observations since all summer he spent with family.

“Our next item to our agenda concerns the continued funding of the expedition of the Compte de la Perouse around
the world as appointed by our present King Louis XVI. We have underwritten the cost and insurance for the Astrolabe and the Boussole both frigates equipped with full artillery as well as the scientific intruments for this expedition which include new sextants, watches and compasses as well as the insurance on the men. The expedition led by the Compte de La
Perouse along with an astronomer, a botanist, several naturalists and illustrators…

The hunting lodge was more than suitable a meeting place for members to the Order. It was here any ruler, protectorate of state or sovereign, or financial minister of affairs could safely request for immediate financial assistance without the political strain inherent with the levying of taxes — or the burden of bureaucratic diplomacy involved with the maintaining of good financial relations with foreign powers. The hunting lodge resided on extraterritorial ground independent of local, national, and international jurisdiction as were all the estates, land holdings, and territories owned by Maurice and the Marceau family world over.

“Gentlemen. Our next item of negotiation is the continued recovery of commodities from the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet which consisted of several Spanish galleons, containing gold and silver. This fleet was accompanied by French merchant ships, namely the Griffon under the command of Antoine Dare. Louis XIV and his grandson, Philip V, King of Spain partnered in this expedition in an effort to deliver merchant trade cargo from France and Spain to New Spain and return with gold and silver commodities mined in Peru, Columbia, and Veracruz.

The carriage went along a graveled path rather slowly until the large estate came into full view from a distance. The large Tudor mansion with its oversized diamond paned windows, tall chimneys and wide wooden front door was evidently built for a King. Max gaped. Walter dropped his jaw. The servants were standing in line at the front ready to greet their young master.

“Blimey!,” said Walter.

“I know. And I must face them. Who would have thought that I, a sizar at University of Cambridge, would come to all this??,” asked Max.

The carriage came to a full stop and the carriage driver opened the door…

Marriage was an obligation in centuries past. During Maurice’s day there was no freedom to be gay in 1788 in the upper echelons of society as in the times we are living now. Most especially if one’s family was extremely wealthy and well known. Marriages such as these were often times understood as convenient by making it plain to the other partner of a third-party. Marriages like these do become painful for those who go into it with hopes of a change in the development of the marriage as time goes along.

“Maurice…these are the times we live in. Someone like you has to marry and have children. It is very much expected by your family and society as a whole. There is no freedom to be your true self. My apologies, you must know that marriage is an obligation for the very rich who can afford raising a family,” said Guillaume. Maurice sighed. Excerpt from Chapter One of Marceau, French Historical Fiction #histfic